(TRADE NEWSWIRE): A Socio-Economic Reformer and Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, has tasked staff of the organization and operators around port environment to have a change of attitude in obeying environmental laws for a pollution free environment, TRADE NEWSWIRE reports.

She made this clarion call while addressing stakeholders at a One-day event marking World Environment Day 2017 with the theme “Connecting people to nature” recently in Lagos.

Usman, who was represented by the General Manager HeaWorld Environment Day (WED)lth, Safety and Environment (HSE), NPA, Ahmed Yusuf, urged staff of the organization to optimize their contributions to the growth of the Authority by making use of vast potentials presented to them by their immediate environment in the discharge of their duties.

(World Environmental Day): World Environment Day (WED) occurs on 5 June every year, and is the United Nation’s principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. First held in 1974, it has been a flagship campaign for raising awareness on emerging environmental issues from marine pollution, human overpopulation, and global warming, to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime, Wikipedia.

She charged participants at the event drawn from all of walks of life that this year’s event could not have come at a better time in view of the need to bridge the widening gap presently being faced by the inhabitants who have failed to understand the synergy that touches on the concepts ‘’ People and Nature’’

In a statement obtained by TRADE NEWSWIRE from the Principal Manager, Public Affairs, NPA, Ibrahim Nasiru, on behalf of the General Manager, Public Affairs of the Authority, NPA MD further reiterated that the human environment needed to be properly understood in terms of the basic laws and regulations which should be strictly followed at all times by the inhabitants.

‘’We are to take a critical look at our attitude to the environment and consciously care for it by willingly complying with environmental laws and standards, using friendly technologies and methods in our industrial processes and productions, ‘she said.

Speaking the same vein, the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, NPA, Dr. Sekonte Davies, charged stakeholders at the event to assiduously come up with relevant laws and guidelines that would effectively assist in the growth of our environment.

He was of the view that the expected changes in the environment can be achieved aside existing relevant laws, with the resolve of individuals in the environment to have a change in attitude in their ways of doing things.

‘’Doing the right things would always curb the waste of time and resources by relevant agencies of government towards achieving environmental growth,” he said.

In his welcome address, the Chief host and the General Manager, Health Safety and Environment (HSE), NPA, Yusuf Ahmed, affirmed that the annual event was a day set aside by the United Nations to remind humanity that the earth was a single entity that needed to be taken cared of with all intents and purposes.

Ahmed stated that the event which began in 1974 marked the beginning of the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment which initially took place in Stockholm in 1972.

It witnessed the discussions on the connectivity as it relates to human interactions and the environment. It was then agreed by participants that the challenges facing the environment brought by man had become a problem which needed to be resolved expeditiously through International Cooperation.

According to Ahmed, papers to be presented at this year’s event would attempt at exploring the environment and appreciate its beauty since it needed to be properly harnessed for the benefit of all.

They would among others further adopt steps at protecting the environment from negative effects through the planting of forest trees ; reducing the wastes at source; proper waste disposal and management; and reducing all forms of pollution.

Ahmed affirmed that NPA Management would further ensure that its actions and those of its Stakeholders do not impact negatively on the environment through relevant national and International laws, regulations and conventions aimed at attaining a Port environment devoid of Pollution, oil Chemical spills and bio hazards.

Present at the event were the General Managers, Western Ports, Abiodun Gbadamosi, Marine and Operations, Joshua Asanga, Monitoring and Compliance Iheanacho Ebubeogu, New Business Development and Joint Ventures, Engr. T.O.S Talabi, Maintenance, Engr. A. A. Jatto, while Mrs Susana .N. Asagwara Director Marine and Environment, NIMASA and Nike Sobowale of African Circle.